PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Seeds Council (PSC) on Thursday approved 19 new varieties of seed of different crops, fruits and vegetables with key focus on facilitating farmers by enhancing production and effectively combating diseases in the wake of climate change challenges.

A statement issued here said that the approval was given during a meeting of PSC held at Tarnab Agriculture Institute with Provincial Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Mohibullah Khan in the chair.

The meeting was also attended by Finance Minister Taimoor Saleem Khan Jhagra, MPA ArbabJahandad Khan and Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Israr Khan.

The newly approved varieties include Kornait (peach), Snata Marya and Hosi (pear), Asolpas Jaba and Jabba Enterprises (apple), Sirpo Maria Kaghan (potato), Kunhar Palsta (French bean), Pakhal Ganait (garlic), Qayyum 2018 (maize), Pashta 2018 (wheat), Qaswa 2018 (wheat tractable), Awaz 2018 (wheat), NIFA Mong 18 (mongbean), Laintal 2018 (masoor/lentil), Indus 2017 (Desi Chak P), C-S 240 (maize), C-S 5800 (maize), Zinkol 2016 (wheat) and Faisalabad 2008 (wheat).

Speaking on the occasion, the minister said that the new varieties were being introduced after years of research, conducted by senior scientists of different institutes of the agriculture department.

He said climate change was posing serious challenges to all sectors including agriculture and it was need of the hour to introduce new varieties in crops, vegetables and fruits.

Published in Dawn, January 4th, 2019